Slide selector switch

ABSTRACT

A slidable displaceable switch member that is selectively positioned in a plurality of positions to electrically connect particular groups of conductors in accordance with the position selected, including an adjustable detent for positive positioning of the switch member relative to the group of conductors selected.

[ Mar. 26, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Heide Castle............

r e h c S u a T 0 7 9 2 [5 SLIDE SELECTOR SWITCH 3,493,706 2/1970 Cherry et 3 495 052 [75] Inventor: Stanford M. Heide, Kenosha, Wis. 3'614347 10/1971 [73] Assignee: Chicago Dynamic Industries, Inc.,

Chicago, [11.

Primary Examiner-James R. Scott [22] Filed: Jam 19 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward C. Threedy i ABSTRACT A slidable displaceable switch member that is selectively positioned in a plurality of Appl. No.: 325,085

ncd a m a cum i s mo Sm nu 0d mm %C f cally connect particular groups 0 cordance with the position selected, includin 1 06 R m6 MN 0 "0 m .c r. a .e l l tm [e UMF H M 555 justable detent for positive positioning of the switch member relative to the group of conductors selected.

S T N m MA in. mm m e .25 e

D E n N U m 5 3,146,320 8/1964 Wang et 200/16 D X 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 SLIDE SELECTOR SWITCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A linear slide selector switch assembly comprising a printed circuit board functioning as a dielectric base support for a slidable switch member including a substantially T-shaped detent rack over which a wiper carriage is selectively moved. A guide rod extends in spaced parallelism to such rack and movably supports an operating lever connected to the wiper carriage.

The detent rack is carried by the base support by mounting between end brackets, there being a loose connection therebetween by which the rack may be adjustably moved through its longitudinal length relative to the base support and the printed circuit conductors carried thereby, permitting the contact brushes of the slidable switch member to be properly aligned in full contact with the conductors when detented in selected position with respect thereto.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of embodiment, and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a slide selector switch assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slide selector switch assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an adjustable connection for the detent rack employed in the switch assembly;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional end view of the switch assembly;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the interior of the switch carriage assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a printed circuit board 10 which comprises a dielectric base for the switch. The printed circuit board 10 provides a plurality of strip conductors 11, all of which terminate into suitable island contacts 12 which may be conventionally connected to external electrical connectors.

A detent rack 13 is positioned so as to extend longitudinally and in spaced relation to the base 10 over and above the strip conductors 11. A pair of end brackets 14 are adapted to support the detent rack 13 relative to the base 10. Each of the brackets 14 provides a flange 15 which is adapted to be connected to the base 10 by rivets or the like. The bracket 14 also provides a perpendicular run 16 which terminates into a perpendicularly extending flange 17 which in turn supports an end wall 18. The end walls 18 of the brackets 14 are positioned a greater distance apart than the length of the rack 13 for a reason hereinafter made apparent.

As viewed in FIG. 4, the detent rack 13 provides opposite longitudinally protruding ridges 19 which add rigidity thereto throughout the longitudinal length of the rack. A wiper carriage 20 is adapted to be slidably positioned upon the detent rack 13 and movable thereover across the face of the printed circuit board base 10 and the strip conductors l1 thereon.

The wiper carriage 20 is in the form of a hollow rectangular housing having an open end as well as partially slotted side walls. The inner confronting surfaces of the hollow body of the carriage 20 adjacent to its open end 21, are provided with recesses 22 of such configuration that they will receive the ridges 19 on either side of the detent rack 13 when the same is caused to pass through the side walls of the wiper carriage 20.

Within the hollow body of the wiper carriage 20 is confined a coil spring 23 which is coiled about a reduced shaft portion 24 of a detent 25. The detent 25 provides a semicircular head 26 which, through the expansion of the coil spring 23, is caused to engage the valley portions 27 of the teethlike detents 28 formed on one edge 29 of the detent rack 13. Thus, the switch carriage 20 is slidably positioned on the detent rack 13 and may be moved thereover so as to come to rest upon a selected detent position through the function of the components just described.

To move the wiper carriage 20 over the detent rack 13, there is provided an actuating lever 30 which is slidably journalled upon a support rod 31 which extends between the end brackets 14. The actuating lever 30 provides a bifurcated end 32 which receives a stud 33 formed on and projecting outwardly from one side wall of the wiper carriage 20, as seen in FIG. 4.

Certain corners 34 of the wiper carriage 20 adjacent its open end are relieved so as to provide shoulders that are adapted to be engaged by flanges 35 provided by the lever 30. Thus, by linear movement of the lever 30 there results a slidable movement of the lever 30 over the support rod 31 and resulting detent movement of the carriage 20 over the detent rack 13.

The wiper carriage 20 provides a series of brushes 36 which, as the carriage 20 is moved, will be caused to contact selected strip conductors 11 printed on the face of the circuit board 10.

In construction as well as in use, there may appear a misalignment between the brushes 36 and the strip conductors 11, notwithstanding that the switch carriage 20 is detented upon the detent rack 13. To provide means of correcting such possible misalignment, the detent rack 13 may be longitudinally moved between the end walls 18 of the brackets 14, and this is accomplished in the following manner:

One end 37 of the detent rack 13 is provided with a tongue 38 which has formed therein an elongated opening 39 as well as a pair of apertures 40. This tongue 38 is adapted to lie in facial abutment with a connector strip 41 which likewise is provided with an elongated opening 42 and a pair of apertures 43. The connector strip 41 is fixedly attached to the tongue 38 by means of rivets or the like which extend through the apertures 40 and 43 formed respectively in the tongue end 38 and connector strip 41. The elongated openings 39 and 42, respectively, will be placed in alignment. The connector strip 41 as well as the rack 13 is connected to the end bracket 14 by a rivet or the like 44, which freely passes through the elongated openings 39 and 42. The opposite end of the rack 13 merely provides an elongated opening 45 which freely receives the attaching rivet 46. Thus, the detent rack 13 is longitudinally movable between the end brackets 14 an amount which is equal to the length of the elongated slots 39, 42 and 45. The connector strip 41 carries a pair of spaced apart blocks 47, each of which is provided with a centrally aligned opening 48 extending parallel to the longitudinal length of the detent rack 13. Adapted to be positioned between the blocks 47 is a nut 49 which threadably receives a bolt 50 which passes through an opening 51 formed in the end wall 18 of the bracket 14. Thus, as the screw 50 is rotatedit will thread itself into the nut 49 and, as the nut 49 is caused to travel on the bolt 50, it will impart like longitudinal movement (according to whichever direction it is being turned) to the rack 13 between the brackets 14. Thus, the detent rack 13 and the wiper carriage 20 carried thereby may be positioned relative to the base such that the brushes 36 of the wiper carriage may be correctly positioned in facial contact with the conductor strips 11 so as to complete a circuit therethrough.

In the event an extremely long detent rack 13 is employed, it may be provided with a center support 52 which provides an elongated slot 53, through which a connecting bolt or rivet 54 may pass, so as to adjustably connect the center support 52 to the printed circuit board 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A slide selector switch comprising a. a printed circuit board base providing a plurality of strip conductors thereon,

b. a switch carriage support including detent means extending along the longitudinal edge and mounted in spaced relation to said base,

c. means connecting said support in spaced parallel relation to said base,

d. a switch carriage slidably carried by said support and providing electrical contacts for selectively engaging said strip conductors on said base,

e. means within said switch carriage cooperating with said detent means for positioning said electrical contacts in selected positions with said strip conductors of said base, and

f. means for adjusting said support longitudinally across said base to align said detent means on said support and said electrical contacts of said switch carriage upon selected strip conductors.

2. A slide selector switch as defined by claim 1, wherein said switch carriage support comprises a rigid elongated bar and said detent means being teethlike projections formed on one longitudinal edge'of said bar, and with said carriage providing a spring-biased detent pin cooperating with said teethlike projections for selectively positioning said electrical contacts upon said strip conductors of said base.

3. A slide selector switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said support longitudinally across said base comprises a nut and bolt connection between said support and said means connecting said support longitudinally across said base between said connecting means.

4. A slide selector switch as defined by claim 3, wherein said switch carriage support comprises a rigid elongated bar and said detent means being teethlike projections formed on one longitudinal edge of said bar, and with said carriage providing a spring-biased detent pin cooperating with said teethlike projections for selectively positioning said electrical contacts upon said strip conductors of said base. 

1. A slide selector switch comprising a. a printed circuit board base providing a plurality of strip conductors thereon, b. a switch carriage support including detent means extending along the longitudinal edge and mounted in spaced relation to said base, c. means connecting said support in spaced parallel relation to said base, d. a switch carriage slidably carried by said support and providing electrical contacts for selectively engaging said strip conductors on said base, e. means within said switch carriage cooperating with said detent means for positioning said electrical contacts in selected positions with said strip conductors of said base, and f. means for adjusting said support longitudinally across said base to align said detent means on said support and said electrical contacts of said switch carriage upon selected strip conductors.
 2. A slide selector switch as defined by claim 1, wherein said switch carriage support comprises a rigid elongated bar and said detent means being teethlike projections formed on one longitudinal edge of said bar, and with said carriage providing a spring-biased detent pin cooperating with said teethlike projections for selectively positioning said electrical contacts upon said strip conductors of said base.
 3. A slide selector switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said support longitudinally across said base comprises a nut and bolt connection between said support and said means connecting said support longitudinally across said base between said connecting means.
 4. A slide selector switch as defined by claim 3, wherein said switch carriage support comprises a rigid elongated bar and said detent means being teethlike projections formed on one longitudinal edge of said bar, and with said carriage providing a spring-biased detent pin cooperating with said teethlike projections for selectively positioning said electrical contacts upon said strip conductors of said base. 